Before UAA's hockey practice began in earnest Thursday afternoon, Tommy Grant laughingly spent some time sprawled in front of one net, kicking out his legs and flailing his arms as teammates gently nudged pucks on goal.

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Tommy Grant

MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO MAVERICKS

3-6-1 Overall / 1-6-1 WCHA

at

UAA SEAWOLVES

4-8-0 Overall / 2-6-0 WCHA

WHEN: Tonight and Saturday night, 7:07 AST.

WHERE: Sullivan Arena (cap. 6,251).

TICKETS: $13.25-$18.50.

RADIO: Live, AM-550 KTZN.

TV: Tape delayed, GCI (cable Channel 1), 10:30 p.m.

TRENDS: Both teams could use a productive weekend -- the Seawolves have lost five of their last six games and the Mavericks are 1-6-1 in their last eight matches.

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Afterward, the junior addressed the strength of his goaltending, which on this occasion at Sullivan Arena was displayed while in the equipment he wears as a forward.

"My second effort,'' Grant said with a laugh. "I don't give up on second shots, third shots or even fourth shots. I'll go Dominik Hasek on you.''

Grant, of course, is a winger. He led the Seawolves in goals last season with 15. And he scored two in their season opener this campaign. Since then, though, he's come up empty, without a goal in 11 straight matches.

Crying the blues, he figures, isn't going to change things. That's why he spent the 20 minutes before his impromptu goaltending gig working on various shooting scenarios with linemate Kevin Clark. The two fed each other passes for one-timers and wrist shots.

"When you're not scoring, I like to be the first person on the ice and working on taking shots, on picking corners, working on things you're not doing in games,'' Grant said. "The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up because that's not going to help anything.''

As UAA prepares to open a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series tonight against visiting Minnesota State-Mankato, Grant is hoping for a breakthrough.

That timing would come in especially handy because senior winger Josh Lunden, who is tied with Clark for the team lead in goals with five and leads current Seawolves with 44 career strikes, will not play tonight because of a shoulder injury.

Through 12 games, Grant is tied with Clark for the team lead in points with nine, including a team-high seven assists, but knows he needs to score goals to help a club that has lost five of its last six matches.

"It's definitely expected by my teammates, my coaches and myself to contribute offensively,'' Grant said. "That's why I'm here. But it's not like they guys are pressuring me to score.

"Some games, I've had quite a few chances to score. But last year, sometimes I'd have a back-door tap-in. So far this year, I haven't had those open looks. I just have to keep working hard and make sure I do other little things to help.''

UAA coach Dave Shyiak would like some goals from Grant, of course, but said Grant's drought is not for lack of effort. He pointed out that Grant leads the team in shots on goal (31).

"He's trying hard,'' Shyiak said. "He's getting his minutes and getting his chances. If he continues to get chances, it'll happen. It's just a question of time.''

Grant recalls an instance at Minnesota a few weeks ago when he missed a golden opportunity to score.

"I had probably a quarter of the net to shoot at, and I missed the net,'' said Grant. "When things aren't going your way, that's what happens.''

All in all, though, Grant remains upbeat. He pointed out that he went through a longer drought last season, when he scored 14 goals in his first 19 games, then went 12 games without a goal before scoring in the last game of the season.

Guys who endure scoring slumps often say they need only to have a teammate's shot ricochet off their butt or leg and into the net to get them out of their funk. But Grant said a legitimately sweet goal would probably serve him best.

"It's about confidence -- maybe ripping a slap shot top shelf, or picking a corner,'' he said. "That'd probably be better for me than one going in off my ass.''

Series notes

Shyiak said junior wingers Jade Portwood (knee), who has missed the last four games, and Sean Wiles (shoulder), who missed the last two, will be back in the lineup tonight.

The Mavericks include freshman forward Eli Zuck of Anchorage, who missed part of the early season with illness. He has played three games, with zero points, two shots and three minor penalties.

Four of the Mavericks' six losses have come by one goal, including two last weekend against Colorado College, who won 1-0 in overtime and 3-2.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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